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Unbuilt KC
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:21 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:23 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:51 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2017 9:05 pm
by normalthings
Nice!
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 6:45 am
by kboish
It still blows my mind that the West Edge got built and then torn down.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:27 pm
by JBmidtown
I don't even remember the West Edge project. What's the story behind it?
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 4:34 pm
by mean
It was supposed to be Bernstein-Rein's new HQ, and it started being built as a Moshe Safdie design, then the developer got in a fight with JE Dunn over something or other and construction stopped and the partially-built structure sat for a few years before being sold, torn down, and rebuilt to house Polsinelli. I think. There were several years of madness surrounding the whole deal, with the building being sold back and forth between several different companies, at least one bankruptcy, and a reasonably lovely Safdie design that got turned into scrap metal because nobody wanted it.
Something like that, anyway. It's fairly convoluted.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 5:04 pm
by pash
.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 7:39 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:54 pm
by flyingember
mean wrote:It was supposed to be Bernstein-Rein's new HQ, and it started being built as a Moshe Safdie design, then the developer got in a fight with JE Dunn over something or other and construction stopped and the partially-built structure sat for a few years before being sold, torn down, and rebuilt to house Polsinelli. I think. There were several years of madness surrounding the whole deal, with the building being sold back and forth between several different companies, at least one bankruptcy, and a reasonably lovely Safdie design that got turned into scrap metal because nobody wanted it.
Something like that, anyway. It's fairly convoluted.
There was claims a construction payment was not made for so long that work was purposefully stopped.
The parking garage was saved.
The replacement building ended up being minorly damaged in the explosion across the street. I forget it that created any delay or not.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 12:54 am
by WoodDraw
They didn't have the money to finish the building as designed anyway. It wasn't like we had an architectural icon and knocked it down. It was a completely unworkable project of hubris that nearly ruined businesses close by.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:44 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:10 pm
by warwickland
flyingember wrote:mean wrote:It was supposed to be Bernstein-Rein's new HQ, and it started being built as a Moshe Safdie design, then the developer got in a fight with JE Dunn over something or other and construction stopped and the partially-built structure sat for a few years before being sold, torn down, and rebuilt to house Polsinelli. I think. There were several years of madness surrounding the whole deal, with the building being sold back and forth between several different companies, at least one bankruptcy, and a reasonably lovely Safdie design that got turned into scrap metal because nobody wanted it.
Something like that, anyway. It's fairly convoluted.
There was claims a construction payment was not made for so long that work was purposefully stopped.
The parking garage was saved.
The replacement building ended up being minorly damaged in the explosion across the street. I forget it that created any delay or not.
wtf that is nuts. i had forgotten about this whole thing and kind of lost track of it after i moved back to st. louis.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:19 pm
by warwickland
my god, i went back and skimmed the west edge thread. my god!
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 3:09 pm
by rxlexi
Despite the utterly absurd debacle that was the West Edge construction process, and the loss of a potentially very attractive Sofdie design, it's worth noting that overall the West Edge has been a hugely positive addition to the Plaza, IMO.
First, the original southern building, opened as Hotel Sorella, now Fontaine, was retained. It's a great design, with well hidden parking, a great rooftop pool area and bar/dining room, and terraced views of Sunset Hills. I love it.
The Polsinelli office building, while disappointing compared to the Sofdie design, is bland, OK I guess, but offers some of the most sought after Class A space on the Plaza as well as new homes for JJ's, Jax Oyster House, and now Monarch cocktail bar. All well done, all bring something unique to plaza nightlife. JJs and Monarch patios are actually quite attractive with interesting views of the surrounding hood.
That being said, STILL wish they had kept the original, constructed (!) building with the swoopy metallic lobby and Advertising Icon museum, and potential corner grocer.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:52 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:09 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Just curious, which projects in this thread would you all have liked better than what actually got built and why? West Edge seems to be an obvious one, but what others?
My personal pick would have to be the original design for Liberty Memorial.
The scale would have been insane. It looks like they would have had to excavate half the hill to build it! I also like the stairs going down to the fountain.
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 12:29 am
by TheLastGentleman
Power and Light Building
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 11:06 pm
by TheLastGentleman
Found this in the Plaza library. Sorry about the glare. :/
Re: Unbuilt KC
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 10:28 pm
by TheLastGentleman